Power and Wealth

Chapter 1344: Promise!

The Party Committee meeting ended.

The Committee members walked out slowly.

Pu An is called Dong Xuebing. “Mayor Dong, it’s late. You should go back and rest.”

Dong Xuebing looked at his watch. “Haha… it’s still office hours.”

Pu An walked with Dong Xuebing along the corridor. “It’s almost the end of the work day. You must be exhausted today.”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “I am fine. I will go back later. I still got work to do.”

Pu An nodded. “Ok. Take care of your health.”

“Yes. I am going off after I am done.” Dong Xuebing parted ways with Pu An.”

Pu An left, and Jian Xianrong gave Dong Xuebing a thumbs-up when he walked past him. Dong Xuebing smiled and nodded. Although they did not say anything, they knew what that thumbs-up meant. It was not because Dong Xuebing saved those residents. It was because of his proposal in the meeting. The Meng Faction had an overwhelming victory today and were in high spirits. Jian Xiangrong even walked with his head held high. This was Secretary Meng's first loss to Mayor Jiang in the Party Committee meeting.

“Mayor Dong.”

“Mayor Jiang.”

“Let’s talk in my office.”

“Sure. I was looking for you, too.”

Jiang Fangfang called Dong Xuebing. They did not talk much and walked straight into the Mayor’s office. They had many things to discuss.

The other side.

Party Secretary office.

Meng Rui sat behind his desk angrily. Deputy Secretary Zhang Wanshui and the Party Committee Office Director Jiang Hai were sighing. They were in a bad mood.

“This is too much of a coincidence.”

“The gods are helping them.”

“Our road repair proposal would be approved without this incident.”

“This Dong Xuebing is too lucky.”

Ring… ring… ring… Secretary Meng’s phone rang. It was from the City leader. He called to ask about today’s incident. Meng Rui reported the situation to the leader. The leader ordered Zhen Shui County to set up an investigation team to investigate the cause of this incident. He wants to know the cause and hold the people related to the incident responsible.

The people responsible for the collapse?

Where is he going to find them?

Meng Rui wanted to push this incident to the Jiang Faction to mitigate Jiang Fangfang’s victory. But the building was built decades ago. Those leaders might not  be alive, and the building was worn down over time. It had nothing to do with anybody. It might be fine if it was a gas pipe explosion. But this incident started because a resident’s gas cylinder exploded. It was an accident. Everyone knows they could not find the person responsible for this incident. It would be the County leaders bearing full responsibility.

The Meng Faction had swallowed a bitter pill in silence.

They were set up by Mayor Jiang… no! It was Dong Xuebing who set them up.

The road repair proposal would benefit many people from the Meng Faction, but Dong Xuebing messed it up.

Thirty million RMB of funds from the Central Government were all taken away by the Jiang Faction.

Meng Rui and his men could not get a single cent.

This was more than the benefits. Secretary Meng and his men felt humiliated. They always got the final say in the County, but the Jiang Faction had broken the spell.

Who can stand it?

The Meng Faction was utterly defeated.

At around the same time.

Mayor Office.

Jiang Fangfang and Dong Xuebing entered, and Secretary Li Xiaona quickly stood up to receive them. She looked at Dong Xuebing weirdly as she poured tea from them.

Inner office.

Jiang Fangfang sat behind her desk. “Xiaona, carry on with your work.

“Ok. Call me if you need anything.” Li Xiaona left and closed the door.

Jiang Fangfang drank her tea and looked into Dong Xuebing’s eyes without saying anything.

Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. He observed her expression and said. “Mayor Jiang, I must apologize to you. I was abrupt this morning in the meeting. I did not follow your proposal on repairing roads in the villages. I could not inform you as your phone was off. I came to look for you at your office, but you left for the meeting. Secretary Li knew I came looking for you. That’s why I proposed repairing and rebuilding the family quarters during the meeting without discussing it with you. It’s my fault, but I got my reasons. Don’t be angry with me. This is the last time I am disobeying your orders.”

“Don’t be in a rush to prove your loyalty.” Jiang Fangfang looked at him. “I am not angry. I am curious. How do you know?”

Dong Xuebing feigned ignorance. “What do I know?”

Jiang Fangfang replied. “About the family quarters collapsing.”

Dong Xuebing waved. “I don’t know about it. I am not a fortune teller and cannot predict the future.”

“You don’t know? Then why do you have the guts to raise it during the Party Committee meeting?” Jiang Fangfang looked at him. “From my understanding of you, you will never do this. You might be rash and disregard any possible consequences. But if all the things you did were listed, you would realize that those you put your mind to got outstanding results. You will not do anything you are not confident in.”

Dong Xuebing quickly replied. “No… I was lucky. This was a last-minute decision. A friend called me and told me many family quarter buildings became unsafe because of the lack of maintenance. He also showed me some photos. It was scary.” He lied. “You should know I was transferred from Fen Zhou City. I experienced Fen Zhou City’s earthquake last year. Many people were killed, and it was hell. I was afraid that an earthquake would happen in Zhen Shui County. Those family quarter buildings will surely collapse, and the death toll will be very high. That’s why I changed my mind and did not discuss it with you at the last minute.”

Jiang Fangfang nodded. “Ok.”

Dong Xuebing replied in a joking manner. “You said we are friends. You should not be angry because of this incident.”

Jiang Fangfang smiled. “I would not support you if I was angry.”

Dong Xuebing remembered. “I still have not thank you. Thank you for your trust.”

“It is not about trust. I was quite surprised when you raised that proposal. I don’t know what you are up to.” Jiang Fangfang replied calmly. “But you must have your reasons to do that. You have supported me since you came to Zhen Shui County and greatly helped me. I must support you.”

“This is the trust you have in me.”

“If you say so.”

“But have you ever thought my proposal might raise problems? Then…”

“Yes. I would be angry when that happens.” Jiang Fangfang seemed to be joking. She smiled. “But it seems I don’t have the opportunity to be angry with you.”

Mayor Jiang was always calm.

She remained emotionless even after the meeting.

But Dong Xuebing knew Jiang Fangfang was not as cool as she looked.

“You performed well in this meeting and raised the proposal at the correct time.” Jiang Fangfang looked at him. “I saw many comebacks in Party Committee meetings. But this was the first time I saw a fightback happening because of a sudden incident. Well done.”

“Thanks for the compliments. It was a coincidence.”

“We need some luck sometimes, which is part of one’s abilities. You had won the lottery before. That means you are someone favored by God.”

Dong Xuebing was surprised. “You believe in fate?”

Jiang Fangfang looked at him. “Of course not.”

Dong Xuebing was stunned for a second, and they burst out laughing.

“It’s almost time to end work.” Jiang Fangfang looked at the time. “I must visit the Public Security Bureau family members and the hospital. I might not have much time. Let’s discuss repairing the family quarter buildings briefly. You will be doing most of the work. Although I am the overall in charge, it is only a name. The actual person doing the monitoring of the progress is you. You can decide without reporting to me. We will discuss the general direction. Let’s set when we will start work, and I will leave the rest to you.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I don’t have any experience in this. You…”

“I know your capabilities.” Jiang Fangfang was confident of him. “You will be fine and don’t need to do everything yourself. You can set the general direction and let the people below do the rest. You only need to send someone to monitor the progress and quality.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Ok.”

They discussed the details.

A while later, Jiang Fangfang’s phone rang. “Hello? Yes… yes… we will repair the roads. Don’t be anxious. I will do it since I promised you all. I understand the villagers’ plight. I had visited the villages more than once, and I know…”

Jiang Fangfang puts down her phone after hanging up.

Dong Xuebing knew Mayor Jiang might have promised the villages. But the funds will be used to repair the family quarters. Although the Jiang Faction won this round, she must be worried about the road repairs in the villages. Dong Xuebing looked at her and promised. “I disrupted your plans today. Don’t worry. The villages’ roads will be repaired. I will think of a way to get the funds.”

“This has nothing to do with you. Even if I proposed repairing the roads, the funds would still be used to repair the family quarters. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“But you promised the villagers and did not bring up this proposal at the meeting. It was my fault for you to let those village leaders down.” Dong Xuebing felt guilty. “Anyway, I will think of a way.”

“We will think of a solution.”